2 96. LATIN HYMNS AND HYMNISTS. 431
in the Martinstobe, is a meditation on death (Antiphona de
morte) :
" Media vita in morte sumus : Quern qucerimus adiutorem nisi te, Domine, Qui pro peccatis nostris juste irasceris f Sancte Dem, sanctefortis, Sancte et miser icors Salvator : Amaroe morti ne tradas nos." l
This solemn prayer is incorporated in many burial services. In the Book of Common Prayer it is thus enlarged :
" In the midst of life we be in death :
Of whom may we seek for succour, but of Thee, O Lord, which for our sins justly art moved?
Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour,
Deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death. Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts.
Shut not up thy merciful eyes to our prayers : But spare us, Lord most holy,
O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour,
Thou most worthy Judge eternal, Suffer us not, at our last hour,
For any pains of death, To fall from Thee."2
PETER DAMIANI (d. 1072), a friend of Hildebrand and promoter of his hierarchical reforms, wrote a solemn hymn on the day of death :
" Gravi me terrore puhas vitce dies ultima,'' 3 " With what heavy fear thou smitest."
1 Daniel, II. 329 ; Mone, I. 397. Several German versions, one by Luther (1524) : "Mitten wir im Leben sind mit dem Tod umfanyen'' This version is considerably enlarged and has been translated into English by Miss Winkworth in '' Lyra Germanica" : "In the midst of life behold Death has girt us round.'' See notes in Sohaff's Deutsehes Qesangbuch, No. 446.
2 The text is taken from The First Book of Edward VI., 1549 (as republished by Dr. Morgan Dix, N. Y. 1881, p. 268). In the revision of the Prayer Book the third line was thus improved :
'* O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased (irasceris}"
8 Daniel, I. 224. English Versions by Neale, Benedict, and Washburn (1. c. p. 145). German translation by Konigsfeld : " Wit du mich mit Schrecken
432 FOUKTH PEEIOD. A.D. 590-1049.
He is perhaps also the author of the better known descriptive poem on the Glory and Delights of Paradise, which is usually assigned to St. Augustin :
"Ad perennis vitcefontem mens sitivit arida, Claustra carnis prcesto frangi clausa qucerit anima: Gliscit, ambit, eluctatur exsulfrui patria" l
The subordinate hymn-writers of our period are the fol lowing : 2
ISIDOR of Seville (Isidoris Hispalensis, 560-636). A hymn on St. Agatha : " Festum insigne prodiit."
CYXILLA of Spain. Hymnus de S. Thurso et sociis: a Exulta nimium turba fidelium"
EUGENIUS of Toledo. Oratio S. Eugenii Toletani Episcopi : " Rex Deus."
PAULUS DIACONUS (720-800), of Monte Casino, chaplain of Charlemagne, historian of the Lombards, and author of a famous collection of homilies. On John the Baptist (" Ut queant laxis)? and on the Miracles of St. Benedict (Fratres alacri pectore).
ODO of Cluny (d. 941). A hymn on St. Mary Magdalene day, "Lauda, Mater Ecclesice" translated by Neale : " Exalt, O
schiittelst." Neale (p. 52) calls this " an awful hymn, the Dies Tree of individual life." His version begins :
'* O what terror in thy forethought, Ending scene in mortal life ! "
1 Daniel, 1. 116-118 (Ehythmus de gloria et gaudiis Paradisi], under the name of St. Augustin. So also Clement, Carmina, p. 162-166, who says that it is attributed to Augustin "per les melleurs critiques" and that it is "un reflet de la Cite de Dieu." But the great African father put his poetry into prose, and only furnished inspiring thoughts to poets. German translation by Konigsfeld (who gives it likewise under the name of St. Augustin) : ' Nacfi des ew'gen Lebens Quellen."
2 See their hymns in Daniel, I. 183 ?qq., and partly in Mone, and Clement.
8 From this poem (see Daniel I. 209 sq.) Guido of Arezzo got names for the six notes Ut, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La :
" Ut queant laxis Re-sonare fibril Mi-ra gestorum Fa-muli tuorum, Sol-ve polluti La-bii reatum, Sancte Joannes."